Meet Lexi-Segreto’s Newest Design Assistant!

September 7, 2015

Not many people are able to confidently say that they get to walk through Houston’s most beautiful homes every single day…. but I am absolutely certain that I can! Always having a passion for interior design, working for Segreto has opened my eyes to the importance of fine finishing and the difference it makes in any space. How quickly I have become accustomed to thinking paint on walls simply is not enough and that plaster is a necessity. And cabinets? Not a chance that flat cabinets and dressers are acceptable anymore.

In May I graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, and although I have only worked for Segreto for only a couple of months I feel like I have been a part of the family for years. Immediately after meeting the team, and seeing how much I would use my employee discount on everything in the boutique (like these amazing new gems), I knew this was a great place for me! It’s a fun, upbeat culture where flustered clients can come in and know they will be taken care of.

What I didn’t know, but continue to discover, is how much I have to learn. Before no time at all I was thrown into the fast paced craze of construction and shifting schedules we work in everyday. Filled with everything from houses that haven’t broken ground to older homes simply looking for a chic update we are constantly in and out of the office and juggling the day’s tasks. While new homes are always spectacular and a great adventure to work on, I have really loved seeing what we have been able to do in a little more …lived in…home. The ability we have to completely transform and space with a simple cabinet finish or plastered ceiling is unbelievable.

Today I am excited to have the opportunity to get to show you a few of my favorite projects that I have had the opportunity to work on, and give you a sneak peak of what it’s like to be a part of our everyday:

This first home will always hold a special place in my heart as the first place I worked with start to finish. This homeowner moved from Europe a few years ago and longed for the cozy feel of the home she left overseas. While the family was escaping the summer heat we took every painting and every piece off of every shelf to plaster her entire downstairs. After the plaster went up we had to put every. single. piece. back. There is no doubt in my mind that I know this house better than my own. Upon homecoming, the client could not have been happier as the plaster was able to create a depth and softness on the walls while still bringing in the cool blues and greens that were carried through her fabulous existing décor.

In the next house, carefully curated by Trisha McGaw, I stopped by to create the punch out list for our plaster crew, but I could not help but fall in love! Even in its slightly unfinished state I was captivated by its clean elegance and the overwhelming amount of light let in by these fabulous doors (and how about that powder bath!)

In this home we plastered a large portion of the interiors and I got the privilege of dropping in when we were called back to spice up the mudroom with a stencil on the ceiling! It has been amazing fun seeing how our artist, Alex, can transform a space. I have to say that one can’t possibly appreciate the art of stenciling until you trying it yourself – just as I did on a poorly executed sample board in the shop. The ability to center everything, line it up perfectly, and create clean lines with the stencil is a true skill and we are lucky enough to have amazing talent, like Alex up there, that can do it! Because it is customizable and fits seamlessly into even the most complicated spaces, I have grown to admire it more so, than wallpaper.

Doesn’t that stencil just perfectly complete the space? And I think the color for both the cabinets and stencil couldn’t be more cheerful and welcoming for a back entry space!

While we were there for the mudroom the homeowner decided to add gold leaf to the ceiling of this already unbelievable blue bar. The gold leaf was able to highlight the incredible details, and perfectly incorporate the brass accents like the chandelier and the bar. The paint has an incredible lacquer-like sheen that we have been a huge fan of lately! Doesn’t this fabulous room just feel like something out of the latest Gatsby movie?

The homeowner saw my wide eyes and was kind enough to offer a tour through the house so I snagged a few pictures for you too! Her master bedroom wallpaper was hand screened and absolutely incredible! So many of our painted murals are inspired by wall-coverings so it was fun to see this in person. Throughout the whole house it was just one amazing detail after the other. The ceilings and light fixtures were all just fabulous!

And just look at how precious the client’s daughter’s rooms are going to be! These nightstands and lamps are just absolutely darling.

Yet another WOW moment happens in this floor to ceiling marble master bath in a beautiful new construction by interior designer Kara Childress. This is a more contemporary home that has been a blast to work on! We plastered the whole house and the white plaster is absolutely ideal for the clean feel they were going for. Then we went back and painted the switch plates to blend in seamlessly with the unique marble! Is that detailed work on the switch plates not just incredible?

Here is a delightfully delicate powder bath in a home that Lucas/Eilers interior design did. The light blue plaster is the perfect hint of color that only enhances the beauty of the gorgeous vanity. While I’m sure this sounds a bit strange, I have just recently come to realize how much I love powder rooms. I used to feel as though they were just a lost space, but now I look at them as the space where the homeowner and designer feels that they can be brave and go all out. It’s not a huge commitment, like a living room, but it is the perfect place for that bold fixture or pattern you just can’t put anywhere else.

Equally breathtaking – but in a different way – is this plastered study with glazed cabinets and beams! Please feel free to get me a book and cup of tea so I can settle in here at any time.

With these homes comes the people who design them, build them, decorate them, and live in them, and let me tell you – meeting these people has made this job twice the fun. Everyone is excited and passionate about what we’re doing and with the diversity in personalities comes a brilliant blending of tastes and decor. And of course, there is always the occasional pup that captivates me on home visits like this little one!

My introduction to Segreto has been a bit like hopping onto a moving treadmill but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love these people and the way they love their work. I love the houses we go to and the opportunities and challenges we see every day. I am excited to see what each day brings and how we can make the world a little more beautiful. In the meantime check out our Instagram that we post to.

For today, always remember there is nothing you can’t fix with a little bit of paint.

Congratulations to you on your graduation and getting a job with Segreto! How wonderful! All the rooms are beautiful! Is the color in the plaster that is applied to the walls or the paint is applied after? This isn’t Venetian plaster is it? The Venetian plaster I’ve seen is shiny. Good luck to you Lexi! ( my daughter’s name too!)

Hi Leslie,
Do you know or have you done this diamond plaster over wallpaper? We have a large family room with wallpapered walls and it would
be costly and difficult to remove. Thanks for your help, MaryBeth

Hi Mary Beth! I have done it over wallpaper. It is a risk however as you are only as strong as your weakest link. If you do then seal it first with an oil based primer. I always say try to remove the wallpaper first–If it rips the Sheetrock because the bond is so strong then you are probably good to leave it. Let me know if you have any more questions. Have a good one!!

“An enthusiast of design architecture and art, who is passionate about anything painted, I hope to share with you the secrets which will inspire beautiful living in your own home!”-Leslie Sinclair, entrepreneur, color and finish specialist, author, wife and mother of three, living in the Lone Star State. Enjoy!

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"When one thinks of timeless interiors, the understated elegance of mixing old world charm with modern conveniences, I don't have to look any further than Segreto's books to explain my vision! Leslie's finishes set the perfect backdrop for the ever changing dynamic of the family home. They are the details that add warmth to our surroundings and the texture to any space."
-Joni Webb, Cote de Texas